Kazakhs love to celebrate holidays and special occasions. During these times, Kazakhs often dress in their traditional clothes. Villages or city neighbourhoods will set up yurts nearby where they host elaborate meals. Kazakhs will frequently go to visit friends and family, bearing gifts, flowers and candy. Merry-making, games, traditional horse-races, and various amusements accompany festivities.

One of the favourite holidays, pre-Islamic festival Nauryz meiramy (New Days) was reintroduced in 1995. It is a New Year's eve according to the ancient Oriental calendar and the day of spring equinox. When Kazakhs celebrate Nauryz, presence of the figure of "7" is indispensable - it embodies 7 days of the week - time units of universal eternity. In front of aksakals (white beards or old men) they would put 7 bowls with the drink of Nauryz kozhe, prepared of 7 grades of 7 types of cereals. Nauryz is celebrated with traditional games and festivals, street art and colourful fairs.

Victory Day is the national holiday in honour of the victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.